Compressing and baling apparatus.



\ Patented July 3|, |900. A. s. Goocn.

COMPRESSING AND BALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed May 8, 1900.)

3 SheeisASheet l.

No. 654,070. n `Pat'enwmmy 31,. |900.

A. S. GOOCH. CUMPRESSING `AND BALING APPARATUS.

(Application med may e, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

h| N IIN.

WJTNESSES.- B

:Teus ou, mmouwa.. wnsnmcnou, nA u Patented July 3|, |900. A. S. GOOCH.

COMPBESSING AND BALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed May 8, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Affari/y (No Modal.)

UNITED lSrafrns`f ,PATENT rrrcir.

ALrHoNso s. cocon, or LITTLE Rook, ARKANsAs;

srncirrcarron forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,970, date .Tiny 31,' 1906.

Application tiled May 8, 1900. Serial NIL-15,927. (No modali) To all whom it' may concern:

Be it knownthat I, ALPHONSO S. GOOCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Compressing and Balin g Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speciiication, andto the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to compressing and baling apparatus 'in which the cotton or other material is delivered 'to the compressing-rollers and from the rollers into a bale chamber or box in which the bale is formed into shape, andhas reference more particularly to that class in which an oscillating carrier or bale-box is employed and a flexible connection between the bale-box and compressing-rollers, whereby the flexible connections are alternately coiled over the compressing-rollers in the operation of compressing or baling the cotton or other material.

It is the purpose of the invention to materially improve the above class of compressing and baling apparatus, whereby a more perfeet action and operation of the parts are at-A tained, the compressing fand balingof 'the' cotton, hay, straw, orother material facilitated and rendered more simple, as well as securing increased strength and durabilityin'^ the general construction of the machine ,or apparatus. Y- 1" j The invention therefore consists 1n a cornressino and balind a aratus constructedV P s s P substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure `l of the drawings is a central sectional elevation of a compressing and baling apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, the rack-driving shaft and pulley being shown in elevation; Fig. 2, an end view thereof, showing the rack-driving shaft and pulley in dotted lines;` Fig. 3, a side elevation with the several movable parts in the same position shown in Fig. l; Fig. 4, atop plan view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a horizontal section takenon line 5 of Fig. l, showing the shaftsof the'compressing-rollers in elevation 5 Fig. 6, a detail View, on an enlarged scale,

showingpthe lcompressing rollers and shafts in section and the folder-plates connected with the rollers by suitable springs, the toothed wheels on the ends of the rollers, the rack-bar and its connections being shown in elevation; FiO. 7, a detail horizontal view of one of the rack-bars, the trip device, and its connections; Fig. 8, a detail edge View ofthe bar, with trip device thereon; Fig. 9, adetail view, on an enlarged scale, showingthe ends of the compressing-rollers in section, also the tray for holding the antifriction-rollers resting thereon, the rollers being shown in elevation on the tray; Fig. lO, a detail end view of one of the shafts of the compressingroller, a transverse section of the tray resting thereon, with the antifriction-roller in position on the tray and the track for the rollers located above the same, said track being shownV in cross-section; Fig. 11, a detail .View showing a modification of the means employed for holding the material down upon the platen, rollers being substituted for the aprons.

In the accompanying drawingsNA represents a metal frame of any suitable f orm and construction, which is supported on a floor or base B, said frame at its top having the horizontal brace-rods ct, and at the bottom or lower end of the frame is connecteda suitable oscillating carrier C, which may beA of any desirable` form and construction and connected to the frame in any well-known and suitable mannerl that will' admit of the carrier oscillatingback and forth on an are of a circlevvhenthe necessary poweris applied thereto. This carrier C is provided with segmental racks D, which meshrwith toothed wheels E upon the ends of two compressing-rollers F G, the toothed wheels imparting motion to the racks. These rollers are keyed to shafts projecting out beyond the ends of the' rollers and having their bearings in the sides of the frame A, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. These shafts, as represented at b, have flanged ends c, upon which rest the trays Hfor supporting the antifriction-rollers d, said trays extending transversely of the shafts and the rollers bearing against a track I, suspended over the rollers, as shown in Figs. 9 and lO of the drawings. The trays H are retained on the ends of the shafts by the lianges e, the rollers shown in Fig. l of thedrawings.

on the trays assisting in a more perfect and easy operation of the'parts, with less tendency to bind, and presenting less resistance to the rack-bars. f

' Slatted or any ysuitable aprons of any pre# ers and at theirl opposite ends to brackets f,

projecting from the segmental racks D, as

of the periphery of the compressing andfoldlaying rollers F G has a dat surfac'e,ras shown at g, to form seats` for the slatted aprons 'J K to rest upon when wound-around! the rollers, so that the outer surface'ofthe apron when thus wound around the rollers will not project beyond the greatest diameter thereof',"an`d thereby describe a complete circle and `insure a successful operationof the rollers in` their compressing action. ,The

slatted or other suitable aprons are alter-Nv nately wound around their respective coms.

`pressing and fold-laying rollers, as shown iny Fig. l lof the drawings.

When the'ap'paratus is used for compress`` ing-and baling cotton, the sheet r bat thereof,

as .indicated at X in. Fig. 1 of the drawings, .is lfed to the platen L in layers, the `s latted aprouholding thelayers down thereon/until the .nexty layer is formedl by the. opposite compressing` and fold-layin g roller, this alternate action of the rollers and slatted aprons upon the cottonba't forming a succession fof layers untilfa sufficient number is secured to formf the required-size bale. yIn balingfcotton or like material that is required to be inclosed in bagging the bottom bagging is` 'rs't placed on the platen, and .when .the b ale is of the desired size the appa` ratus is stopped by the means usually em?` ployed for this purpose and the top bagging,

withties attached, andthe platen lowered a sufficient distance to removal ofbale.

Each of the rollers F G is provided with a spring-actuated folder-plate llL'connectedy with theroller byacoiledspring or springs N, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6 of the drawl ings. These spring-actuated folder-plates are for thepurpose'of engagingv the material'toV be baled on the inside thereof orthe side next to the compressing. or fold-laying roller, as

' shown in Fig. lofy the drawings. kAs the material'nearsthe end of its travel to kcomplete the 'fold thespring-actuated folder-plate will force the material a little way f-rom the roller and hold it down until the motion of the'roller is reversed, thereby insuring an even fold of material. Y 'Inorder tobringlthe spring-actuated folderplate in 'position toac'tvon the material, there is provided whatV I f term aff double-inclined spread'er-block,' O." (Shown in Fig. 6 ofl the drawings.) As the compressing andfoldflay-" in g roller is rotated inthe direction of the arro'winFig.V dofthe'drawings the freefendof f A portion ccmplete tying and" Y extend guide-bolts o, the frame being shifted laterally as lthe pinion changes from one side of the internal'gear tothe other, thereby reversing the motionrequired ,to turn the rollers in an opposite direction.-l

. preferable.

folder-plate M will come in contact with the inclined side of the spreader-block O and will ride down the incline and be forced out laterally, as shown, Withthe lug h under the lower end of the pivoted hanger P. In this position the spring-mounted folder-plate lV.[ is held a short time or sufficient to act on the material being folded. When the lower end of the hanger P is removed from contactv with the lug h, the plate will resume its normal position, as shown, on the'com pressi n g fold-layin g roller G. l y

' Any suitable means may be provided for releasing the end of the hanger P from contact with the lugh, such as a trip i upon the hanger, against whichV acts .the shoulder k, which forces it out laterally from contact with the lug. This hanger andthe trip 1'-, in connection with the shoulder Za` on the rackbarR, I shall term a releasing device, and any device that will serve toV release the spring-mounted folder-plate M vat the proper time, so that the salnecan resume its normal position on the roller, may besubstituted for the meansshown,ihat shown beingonlyone Ofmany means that. could be Successfully employed as a holding and releasing device. AThe rack-bars Rare adapted to engage With the toothed Wheels E upon' the ends of the rollers F G,;by whichsaid rollersv are 'given e their motion. These rack-bars R proj ectfrom ahorizontal'frame S, which carries a double rack or internally-toothed gear T, with which engages a pinion Z upon the upper end of the shaft U, which is .provided with a belt-pulleym. Y.

. The above-described mechanism is for the purpose of operating the compressing 'and fold-,layin g rollers FGand also to reverse the motion of the shaft U to turn the 'rollers -in an opposite direction.` The reversing of the motion is accomplished by the laterally-mow able-frame S, and to secure this result the frame has elongated slots fn, through ,which Any suitable and well-known means may be employed for reversing the motion of lthe rack-bars R as found best adaptedl` to the purpose and any changes 'or modifications in the several detailsof construction aswould come Within ordinary mechanicalskill may be resorted to without departing -from the principle o f the invention.l The Avmovable platen L maybe successfully operated by hydraulic or any` other power foundv most Y ,I have Shown in the-drawings la :hydraulic lift orjack consisting ofthe two cylinders W with .the usuel; Pistons V, which Gon-heetst their upper ends withv the l.platen L, bywhich said platen is moved back and forth in the carrierO, o i,'if desired, steam may be substituted. for wa-ter, the *supply to the `cylinder ICO IIO

passing through the pipe r, controlled by a cock s.

It is evident that the carrier C may be in the form of a press-box or receptacle of the ordinary construction, and to form a support for the laterally-shifting frame S there is provided a table p, which extends out horizontally at a suitable distance, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 of the drawings.

Although Ihaveshown aninternally-toothed gear and a pinion engaging therewith as a` means for shifting the frame S to change the motion of the shaft U, any well-known means may be' substituted that will accomplish'the purpose desired.

The l aprons used are shown as r slatted aprons; but any form orconstruction ofapron may be substituted therefor, as found most desirable, as I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to any particular form of apron.

In place of the aprons I may use a plurality of rollers, -as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, to compress and hold the folds down upon the platen, as I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to any special means for accomplishing this purpose.

In the operation of compressing and baling the cotton the sheet or bat, as indicated at X, is fed between the rollers F G, and as motion isk imparted to the upright shaft U throughv the medium of belt and pulley the pinion Z upon the upper end thereof rotates with the shaft. The teeth of this pinion Z mesh with the teeth of the continuous and internal gear T, which will cause the frame S, to which the gear is connected, to be moved lengthwise, giving to said frame a continuous reciprocating motion. The form of gear as shown at F is of the ordinary construction and what is usually termed a double rack, with a continuous-toothed gear, and by the rotatable pinion Z engaging the teeth upon oneside of the rack and thence upon the other side will impart to the frame S a continuous movement back and forth. As the frame S is thus reciprocated or moved back and forth the rackbars R, engaging the toothed wheels E of the rollers F G, will cause said rollers to rotate. The toothed wheel E, engaging the segmental Y racks D upon the upper ends of the carrier D, will impart to the carrier an oscillating motion through the medium of the reciproeating motion of the rack-bars. 'In'therposition shown in Fig. l of the drawings the platen L is directly under the roller F and has completed its layer of cotton sheet or bat, and in this position the spring-mounted folder-plate M is in contact with the material at the juncture of the fold. As the carrier C passes back under the roller G the roller F in its backward movement will carry with it the folderplate M and release it from contact with the block O and the lower end of the hanger P. It should be understood at this point the hanger P, which maybe suspended from any object, has been moved laterally or at a right angle to thelengthof the rack-'bars R suffi-- cient to bring the lower end of the hanger out of line with the lug h and from contact therewith. This shifting of the hanger P is obtained through the medium of the shoulder 71l upon the reciprocating rack-bar R coming in contact with the trip t' as the rack-bar moves forward. The roller F, with its connecting parts, will now assume the same position as `that of the roller G in Fig. 1 of the drawings,

andthe roller G will assume the position of roller F. As the platen L passes under the roller G the folderplate M, coming in contact with the layer of cotton-bat, will form the 4apex of the fold, and the folder-plate M of the roller G, as it is brought in contact with the inclined side of the block O, will be moved out in position to bring the lug h directly under the lower end of the hanger P to hold the plate stationary for action on the cotton-bat.

AThis acti on of the rollers F G and the spring.

mounted folder-plates M is repeated until the desired number of layers of cotton-bat are formed to produce the bale, the slatted aprons holding the material down upon the platen as the layers are being formed.

Having now fully described myinvention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Paten-t, is-

l. A compressing and baling apparatus,

consisting of an oscillating carrier having IOO IIO

laying rollers provided with toothed wheels .,to engage the toothed segments, reciprocating rack-bars for operating the rollers and a suitable apron connecting the carrier with the rollers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A compressing and baling apparatus, consisting of a suitable frame, an oscillating carrier having a movable and mechanicallyresisted platen or follower-block, compressing and fold-laying rollers, suitable aprons conp necting the carrier with said rollers, and spring-mounted folder-plates connected with the rollers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

A. In a compressing andibaling apparatus,

suitable compressing and fold-laying rollers and spring-mounted folder-plates connected to and moving therewith, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y

5. In a compressing and baling apparatus, suitable compressing and fold-laying rollers, suitable spring-mounted folder-plates coni plates-,j'shstantially as and for the vpu'rpose holding 'a'nd "releasing mechanismf forl fthe' describedr Y 6.V -A compressing-' and balingapparatus,

consisting of asnitaljle'f-rarne, an osc'zilla'tingy carie'ijhavi'ng ajm'ovable and mechanicallyvre'sisteilp'latenl, means for operat'in gtheplaten4 or followeriblock,compressing and fold-laying i car-rierprovided with a-movable 'and mechanically-rcsist,ed,v platenor follower-block, com# pressing and fol-d -laying frollers; suitable `aprons connecting ,the-I rollers with the carrier', spring-nnountedv folder-plates Vconnected. g to and` moving with the 'rollers, Iand adoubleinclined spreader-blockto operate theplates; substantially as and for the purpose specified. 9L4 In Ka compressing and'halingapp'aratus;

rollers, suitable aprons connectlngthe rollers4 with the carrier,-` spring-mounted folder-plates v connected to and moving with the rollers, vand.-`

a holding and releasing mechanism therefor,

substantially as and for ihe'pnrpose specified. 7. A compr'e's'sing and, baling appara-tus,

comprising a 'suitable frame, an oscillating carrier having a movable and mechanically# `f resisted platen, compressing and fold-*layi'ngi v rollers, lsuitable aprons Vconnecti ng the 'rollers with' the carrier,-folderplates having lugs at their yinner ends, suitable Vsprings connecting the plates with the rollers, 'and va holding andA releasingfd-evice for 'the plates,V substantially? Y y Y y lWitnessesf 8. A `compressing.fand -baling apparatus, ,consisting of a-suitable frame, an oscillating' as and for the'purpose set forth.

l' ALPHoNso s. Goo'cH.

C. WALTHER, v L. L. WALTHER; 

